This year we will be joined by the winner of the Israel Fishman Book Award for Nonfiction, Alison Bechdel; Jim Carmichael for our own celebration of Barbara Gittings' work with the Roundtable; and C. Dixon Osburn, the Executive Director of the Service Members Legal Defense Network who will be talking about dismantling the prohibition against gays serving in the military.

This year we will be joined by the winner of the Israel Fishman Book Award for Nonfiction, Alison Bechdel; Jim Carmichael for our own celebration of Barbara Gittings' work with the Roundtable; and C. Dixon Osburn, the Executive Director of the Service Members Legal Defense Network who will be talking about dismantling the prohibition against gays serving in the military.

Special Events, Celebrations and Awards

Honor Dance for Loriene Roy, Incoming ALA President

Friday, June 22nd, from 3:30 to 5:30 pm.
The National Museum of the American Indian, a Smithsonian Institution museum, is hosting an Honor Dance for Loriene Roy. The Honor Dance will be held in the Potomac Atrium of the museum and will be free and open to the public.

Many Voices, One Nation: Washington D.C.

Friday, June 22, 2007, 7:00 pm - 10:00pmJW Marriott, Salon I & IIFree, no registration required
Don’t miss this amazing program celebrating the literary diversity and creativity that enriches our world. This enthralling display of talent and imagination by writers from across the land will weave a tapestry of spoken word expressing the myriad of experiences from our varied ethnic, cultural, and lifestyle traditions, and our fundamental unity within the global human family. If you’ve experienced a MVON, you know that this is an unforgettable conference kick-off. Book-signing reception included.Featuring: Nancy Garden, renowned YA author of Endgame and Annie on My Mind; Patrice Gaines, journalist, author, and prison reform activist; Reginald Harris, poet and Head of the Information Technology Support Department for the Enoch Pratt Free Library; Anosh Irani, Bombay-born novelist and playwright residing in Canada; C. M. Mayo, Texan author and award-winning travel writer; E. Ethelbert Miller, author, literary activist and director of the African American Resource Center at Howard University; Mary Kay Ricks, Washington D.C. journalist, author and student of D.C. history and abolitionism; Tim Tingle, Choctaw storyteller and award-winning author of Native American fiction and folklore; and a performance by go-go artist James Funk, go-go is a subgenre of funk which originated in the Washington, D.C. area during the mid- to late-1970s.

2007 Diversity & Outreach Fair

Spectrum 10th Anniversary Luncheon

featuring Nikki GiovanniSunday, June 24, 11:00am - 1:00pmCapital Hilton, Presidential BallroomTickets: $55, Event Code D12
Visit ALA Registration site and find under Special Events. Onsite and at-the-door registration available if not sold out.
The Spectrum Scholarship Program turns 10 years old! Established in 1997, Spectrum--ALA's national diversity and recruitment effort designed to increase racial and ethnic diversity in the profession--has awarded scholarships to more than 415 individuals. Join Spectrum scholars, Champions, and all who advocate for critically needed diversity in libraries at this reception to support Spectrum's future and honor its legacy at a moving and uplifting event you won't want to miss! Featuring: keynote by world-renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator, Nikki Giovanni; remarks by Representative (AZ) Raúl M. Grijalva and Spectrum Champions and Past ALA Presidents Carla Hayden and Betty Turock; performance by National Recording Artist, Librarian and Spectrum Scholar Tracy Worth, and hosted by San Diego County Library Director José Aponte.

10 Years Later—Where Are They Now?: Spectrum Scholars Shining in the Field

Sunday, June 24, 2007, 1:30-3:30pmCapital Hilton, Congressional
In the ten years since the award began, Spectrum Scholars have gone on to excel in an array of positions as varied as the scholars’ backgrounds. From academic reference work to public librarianship - from administrative positions to costume companies, the scholars have fulfilled the program’s goal of increasing diversity in all areas of librarianship. Spectrum Scholars discuss the impact Spectrum has had on their lives and the importance of this diversity recruitment and retention program. Sponsored by the Spectrum Scholar Interest Group. Speakers: Tracie D. Hall, Assistant Dean, GSLIS, Dominican University; Luiz H. Mendes, Electronic Resources Librarian, California State University, Northridge; Alicia Yao, School Librarian, Barnhart School, CA; Ida Z. daRoza, Catalog Librarian, San Mateo County Central Library; moderated by Alanna Aiko Moore, Sociology, Ethnic Studies and Gender Studies Librarian, University of California, San Diego

DIVERSIONS Washington D.C.

Monday, June 25, 2007, 8:30am - 3:30pmTickets: $65
Visit ALA Registration site and find under Special Events. Onsite registration available if not sold out.
In this special installment of the popular "Diversions" tour, which affords ALA goers an up-close and personal encounter with a city's diverse cultures, the Office for Diversity invites you to take part in a tour that allows you to experience Washington D.C. while celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Spectrum Scholarship Program. Featured destinations: the Anacostia Community Museum and neighborhood, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the vibrant shops of multicultural Adams Morgan.

(BCALA) Literary Awards Presentation and Reception

Services & Collections

American Indian Children’s Literature: Identifying and Celebrating the Good

Saturday, June 23, 2007, 8:00 - 10:00amGrand Hyatt Washington, Independence B/C
Co-sponsored by AILA and the Diversity Council.
Identifying and discussing what to look for in Children's Literature for and about American Indian children, looking at cultural issues, accuracy of portrayals, and programming opportunities.KEYNOTE SPEAKER is Joseph Bruchac, noted award-winning Abenaki children's and YA author. Panel speakers include Gabriella Kay, Reference/Children's Library Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, Dr. Naomi Caldwell, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, University of Rhode Island; Lisa Mitten, book review editor for Choice Magazine.

Serving Spanish Speakers with Disabilities

Saturday, June 23, 2007, 10:30am - 12pmGrand Hyatt Washington, Independence B/C
While libraries are enhancing services to Spanish speakers, there is a part of said population whose information needs have yet to be met. Librarians will share guidelines for collection development, assistive technology (AT), and staff awareness trainings to better serve Spanish speakers with disabilities. Co-sponsored by REFORMA and the Diversity Council. Speakers: Carry Banks, Brooklyn PL; a representative from the University of Puerto Rico's Center for Assistive Technology; moderated by Loida Garcia-Febo, Queens Library

Native American Heritage in the Nation's Capitol: Representation, Repatriation, and Resilience

Sunday, June 24, 2007, 8:00am - 12:00pm
Washington Convention Center
Co-sponsored by ACRL's ANSS and the Diversity Council.
An interdisciplinary panel of scholars, curators, and other cultural heritage professionals will explore issues surrounding the preservation and revitalization of American Indian heritage and cultures with a focus on the cultural institutions in and around Washington D.C. This program is co-sponsored by the American Indian Library Association, the ALA Committee on Diversity, the ALA Diversity Council, the Committee on Rural, Native and Tribal Libraries of All Kinds, EMIERT, RBMS and Rural Library Services.

The ACRL Spectrum Scholar Mentor Program: The Experiences of Mentors and Mentees

Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Sponsoredy by the ACRL Dr. E.J. Josey Spectrum Scholar Mentor Committee
Join us to learn more about the impact of the ACRL Dr. E.J. Josey Spectrum Scholar Mentor Program. We hope this program will encourage others to establish or become involved with mentoring programs. Three mentor/mentee teams will share their experiences. Ample opportunity for the audience to interact with the panel will be provided. This program should be of interest to all who are concerned about recruiting the next generation of librarians, ensuring a diverse workforce, and developing mentoring programs.

The "R" Word: Revisiting the Reality of Racism in Academic Libraries

Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
ACRL Racial & Ethnic Diversity Committee
ALA and ACRL Strategic Plans prioritize diversity issues. Creating and sustaining diversity in libraries requires addressing institutional and individual racism. Panelists will revisit racism in academic libraries including the relationship of race and racism to diversity, the definition and operationalizing of diversity; the impact of diversity initiatives on racism; changes in perceptions of discriminatory practices and attitudes; progress toward incorporating the study of race, diversity, and multiculturalism into LIS education; and strategies for addressing racism.

Speakers: Mark Winston, Associate Professor, School of Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Lorna Peterson, Associate Professor, Department of Library and Information Studies, University at Buffalo; Cynthia Preston, Assistant Professor, Social Work/Sociology Librarian, The Ohio State University; Moderator, Michele Saunders, Information Systems Librarian, University of Arizona

(GLBTRT) Aging Issues for GLBT Patrons

Sunday, June 24, 2007, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pmWashington Convention Center, Rm 203A/B
The GLBT community faces the same issues as any aging population, but they do so with little of the guidance and support offered to others. This program will address many of this community's specific concerns and needs, and will offer resources available for support.

Cultural Competence: Bridging the Gap Between What We Say and What We Do

Monday, June 25, 1:30-3:30
Speakers will address REFORMA President Roxana Benavides' theme for 2006-2007: "Bridging the Gaps", by looking at cultural competence as an integral part of service delivery, workforce equity and leadership development. Ghada K. Elturk (Outreach Librarian of the City of Boulder Public Library) will explain why diversity, service, and communication are ineffective without cultural competence. Paula M. Smith (Asst. Librarian, Penn State Abington) will address cultural competence as an organizational development and measurement tool. Camila Alire (Dean Emeritus, Univ. of New Mexico and Colorado State University), and José Aponte (Library Director, San Diego County Library) will outline how and why cultural competence is a vital component of communication and leadership in a global and multicultural environment. Discussion will be facilitated by Roxana Benavides and Sandra Rios Balderrama
Speakers: Ghada K. Elturk; Jose Aponte; Camila Alire

(GLBTRT) 36th Annual Stonewall Book Awards & Brunch

Monday, June 25, 10:30-1:00Renaissance Washington, Grand BallroomTickets $50
This year we will be joined by the winner of the Israel Fishman Book Award for Nonfiction, Alison Bechdel; Jim Carmichael for our own celebration of Barbara Gittings' work with the Roundtable; and C. Dixon Osburn, the Executive Director of the Service Members Legal Defense Network who will be talking about dismantling the prohibition against gays serving in the military.

Monday, June 25, 1:30-3:30Grand Hyatt Washington, Franklin/McPherson Room
The information needs of transpeople in general have frequently been overlooked. Often folded into Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual services, libraries have seldom discussed the unique interests and needs of this growing population. This presentation establishes some baseline cultural competencies and provides guidance on locating basic Transgendered information resources. Included is a pathfinder and bibliography for resources selected for their relevance and accuracy.

Recruitment & Retention

Move ‘em Up: Developing a Workforce to Serve our Communities

Saturday, June 23, 2007, 10:30 am - 12:00 pmMadison Hotel, Dolly Madison Lower
In an effort to increase the number of minority and bilingual staff in New Jersey’s urban public libraries, 5 NJ library organizations partnered on 2 IMLS grants to provide scholarships for library employees to achieve their next level of library education. Funding included training for AA, BA, MLIS, and Ph.D degrees. Partners and students will talk about their experiences designing the grant, recruiting and mentoring, and participating in the program. Sponsored by the Committee on DiversitySpeakers: Connie Paul, Executive Director, Central Jersey Regional Library Cooperative; Edith Beckett, Ph.D student at Rutgers SCILS, New Jersey State Library; Carolyn Ryan Reed, Director, East Orange Public Library
Jana Varlejs, Associate Professor, Rutgers University, SCILS; Tonya Badillo, , Long Branch Free Public Library; Michele Stricker, MLIS Scholar, NJ State Library

(BCALA) the Black Male Librarian: How Do We Recruit the Next Generation?

Sunday, June 24, 2007, 10:30 am - 12:00 pmJW Marriott, Salon III
According to a recent article in the Associated Press, minority recruitment into Librarianship has many challenges. One of those challenges presented was the debunking of the myth that librarians are all older White women. How does this mental picture affect recruitment of Black males into librarianship? The panel plans to discuss the challenges with recruiting black men into a profession that is emasculated by stereotypical career patterns of men and women. This program will be a community discussion and facilitated by Jerome Offord Jr., Association of Research Libraries, Director of Diversity Initiatives.

The Original Wireless Connection: Involvement and networking within professional organizations

Saturday, June 23, 2007, 1:30 pm - 3:30pmMadison Hotel, Dolly Madison Lower
Success and effectiveness in careers and within professional organizations may depend on one’s ability to schmooze in the right fashion and with the right people. Four established and highly respected leaders in librarianship and in diversity issues discuss why, when, how, and how not to network for optimal success in your career and in a way that will lead to contributions to the profession. Sponsored by the Spectrum Scholar Interest Group, moderated by Shannon Jones, Spectrum Scholar and Education Services Outreach Librarian, Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University.Speakers: DeEtta Jones, Diversity Trainer, DeEtta Jones and Associates; Karen Letarte, Acting Head, Metadata and Cataloging Department, North Carolina State Univeristy Libraries; Patty Wong, Deputy Director of Library Services, Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library

(BCALA) Minority Recruitment in Research Libraries: A Model of Success

Sunday, June 24, 2007, 4:00 pm - 5:30pmJW Marriott, Salon III
The US population is becoming more diverse with each new generation and the profession is faced with the issue of the lack of increased numbers of librarians from underrepresented groups being effectively recruited and retained in the profession. The Association of Research Libraries’ Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce Program has worked diligently to recruit librarians from underrepresented groups into careers in research libraries. This session will discuss ARL’s Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce, its program model, funding, future goals, etc.
Presenter: Jerome Offord Jr., Association of Research Libraries, Director of Diversity Initiatives. Panelist: MaShana Davis, Association of Research Libraries, Isabella De Castilla, Library of Congress, David Fernandez-Barrial, Library of Congress, LaVern Gray, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Bergis Jules, University of Indiana.

Diversity Advocate Resources & Committee Meetings

Connecting People, Building Bridges: Diversity Knowledge Database

Saturday, June 23, 2007, 10:30 am - 12:00 pmBeacon Hotel and Corporate Quarters, Ballroom
Spice Up Diversity Programs by Building a Community of Practice: Ever hold a diversity program that you wanted to share? Need to find out what other libraries are doing in the area of diversity programming? Ocean County Library, NJ has created a database to answer both! Whether you are a seasoned librarian or new to the field, our Diversity Knowledge Database will be a valuable tool for creating a winning diversity program.Speakers: Rita Post, Project Coordinator & Reference Librarian, Ocean County Library, NJ; Sabrina LaSpata, Youth Services Librarian, Ocean County Library, NJ; Susan Quinn, Outreach & Special Projects Librarian, Ocean County Library, NJ; Valerie Bell, Chief Librarian, Ocean County Library, NJ

Charting Courses: Diversity Research Grants

Saturday, June 23, 2007, 4:00 - 5:30pmWashington Convention Center, Room 203A/B
2006 Diversity Research Grant Recipients share findings. Join us for these discussions: the results of "Analysis and Adaptation of 'Earphone English': A Public Library Program for Limited English Proficient Youth"; the project "End-User Searching: Comparing ESL Students and Native English Students," examining the searching habits of students with English as a second language compared to native English-speaking students; and how institutional change at Randall Library (UNC-Wilmington) was measured by assessing the impact that the library diversity committee and diversity programming have on the library staff. These award-winning researchers will be joined by the 2007 Achievement in Diversity Honoree.Speakers: Timnah Card, Doctoral Student, GSLIS University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Liza Palmer, Creative and Fine Arts Librarian, University of North Carolina Wilmington; Anne Pemberton, Coordinator of Instructional Services, University of North Carolina Wilmington; Jolie Ogg Graybill, Multicultural Services Librarian, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries; Charlene Maxey-Harris, Diversity Librarian, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries; Charity Martin, Cataloging Librarian, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries; Elizabeth Rodacker, Associate Professor Division of Humanities, Union College

Council Committee on Diversity Business Meeting

Diversity Counts! The Diversity Statistics, Data and Resources You Need Right Now

Sunday, June 24, 2007, 4:00 - 5:30pmWashington Convention Center, Room 103 B
Today’s rapidly shifting demographics oblige libraries to give consideration to diversity as a key factor in both internal and external service planning. More libraries than ever are turning to empirical data to determine workforce composition and institutional policies. ALA’s Offices for Research and Statistics and Diversity have teamed with Decision Demographics to analyze, for the first time ever, National Census data and other relevant surveys to create a national demographic profile of the profession. Speakers: Denise Davis, Director, ALA Office for Research and Statistics; Wanda Dole, Dean of Libraries, University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Chair, ALA Committee on Research & Statistics (CORS)